What it means
A vitamin made in the skin with sunlight and found in fatty fish, eggs and fortified milk. The liver and kidneys turn it into its active form, which raises calcium absorption from the gut. Too little causes soft bones (rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults) and adds to osteoporosisos-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sisA condition in which bones lose density and become thin, weak and easy to break.oste/o bonepor/o pore, small opening-osis abnormal conditionFull entry . Too much, usually from supplements, can raise blood calcium.
For the nurse
Clients at risk of low vitamin D include older adults, people with dark skin or little sun, breastfed infants and people with kidney or liver disease. Teach that it is taken with calcium for bone health as ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | vitamina D |
|---|---|
| Also written | vitamin-d |
Related terms
calcium
A mineral that builds bones and teeth and that nerves, muscles, the heart and blood clotting need to work.
osteoporosis
A condition in which bones lose density and become thin, weak and easy to break.
vitamin
A substance the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and function, mostly from food.
hypocalcemia
A blood calcium level below normal.